When I started writing this blog again, I considered titling it “Confessions of a Keyword Slut.” After some thought, however, I decided that “slut” was too harsh and vulgar a word. Besides, it didn’t alliterate. So instead of “slut,” I decided to call myself a “keyword concubine.”
According to the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, a concubine is “a woman contracted to a man as a secondary wife, often having few legal rights and low social status.”
Anyone who has ever written for the content mills will recognize this to be a true description. Most, if not all, of the mills require all rights to the writer’s work. Most are low paying. Some do not even give the author credit for the project, which can be a blessing or a curse depending on how the article turns out. (Hey, you try to squeeze the words “folding chairs” 15 times into a 300-word article and see if you come off sounding like Shakespeare.)
So, I guess the next logical question is, why do I do it? Why not hold out for the higher paying markets and the prestige of seeing my name on a quality product? There are several reasons. First, I write where I can find work. If I can sell an article to a print magazine or a well-paying online site, you’d better believe I’ll do it. But if those sources aren’t nibbling, and I get offered five bucks or pay-per-click from another source, I’ll take it. As my father so eloquently puts it, “It’s better than a kick in the head.”
I also write for SEO and content mills because it can be an intellectual challenge. It’s fun researching a topic I don’t know anything about, and adding to my knowledge base so I can cover that topic again in the future. It’s also fun to figure out how to word my sentences so a keyword fits in naturally.
And while some content mills give assignments based on keywords, others allow writers to submit articles about almost any topic. I enjoy being a “free range” writer at times, and while the articles I write usually don’t add up to a huge paycheck, they earn enough to keep me in ink cartridges and “to do” weekly planners.
Also, I like the flexibility the content mills offer. I can produce as little or as much as I want. If I have the flu for two weeks, I don’t have to frantically negotiate a new deadline with an editor. I simply drop out of sight and come back when I’m feeling better. On the other hand, if I’m feeling productive, I can turn in several articles a day. It’s all up to me.
Are content mills and SEO the way to go for every writer? Certainly not. But at this point in my career, they work for me. And that is why I acknowledge being a Keyword Concubine.
Recent Work
“Taming Your Pet Hamster” on Life123
“What Not to Say at a Funeral” on Life123
“Questions to Get to Know You” on Life123
“Book Review: Another Life by Andrew Vachss” on Suite101
“Overcoming Dental Phobia” on Suite101
Tags: , content mills, SEO